Outagamie County getting new alcohol detection technology

APPLETON – Outagamie County is getting new technology to ensure sobriety among repeat drunken drivers who are participating in an alternative court program.

The county was awarded a $14,250 grant to purchase five bracelets that can detect the use of alcohol through the skin. Officials also will buy three remote breath-testing devices that will allow officers to conduct random, on-demand alcohol tests.

Outagamie County's Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court will use the devices on those who have committed fourth and fifth drunken driving offenses.

Shayla Russell, coordinator of the treatment court, said the bracelets will help deter offenders from drinking. The devices are highly sensitive and test every half hour.

"There are participants who want this," Russell said. "They need this structure; they need the consistent reminder — they need that kind of help."

Outagamie County's treatment court is an option for high-risk offenders whose crimes are related to substance abuse. Participants are required to undergo treatment and counseling. They're given goals, are routinely tested for drugs and make frequent court visits.

Those who relapse receive sanctions. Those who fail are returned to the traditional court system.

Capt. Dave Kiesner of the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department said the bracelets are a good fit for the treatment court, which is a voluntary program. Participants want to succeed and know incarceration is the likely consequence of failure, Kiesner said..

"They already have some ownership to their addictions," he said.

The SCRAM bracelets — secure continuous remote alcohol monitoring —could extend to other uses if they are successful in the treatment court, Outagamie County Judge Nancy Krueger said.

Some counties use them in family court cases. Others use them as conditions of pretrial bond release.

Krueger said some offenders could start drinking immediately after a urine test, figuring they won't be tested again for some time. The bracelet removes any opportunity to evade detection.

"Even if they drank just a little bit, they'll be found out," Krueger said. "We're going to know."

The bracelets will be used primarily in fourth-offense drunken driving cases. Those convicted would serve jail sentences before having the opportunity for bracelet supervision.

The breath test devices are hand-held and wireless and equipped with a global positioning system. A small camera and facial recognition technology is included to prevent offenders from using others to provide alcohol-free tests.

Those assigned either the bracelets or breath devices will be required to pay fees.

The grant funds were awarded from the Robert Dohr and Lilas Dohr Current Community Needs Fund and the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.